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CONS

VERDICT

Shadowrun Returns is a great PC RPG experience that translates well to the iPad. Hopefully it receives more campaigns in the future.

Full Review

App Store Info

For years now, the pen and paper game Shadowrun has delighted players with its mixture of magic, future-tech, and corporate espionage. The Kickstarter-funded Shadowrun Returns plays like a PC RPG from the late '90s. Cast as a titular Shadowrunner, you explore your surroundings, talk to the locals, take on quests, or just follow the clear story objectives.

When you get into a fight, the game turns into a less cinematic version of XCOM: Enemy Unknown. You can take cover, use ranged or melee weapons, and - because this is a world of magic - sling spells at enemies and allies.

Your character's abilities and proficiencies are dependant on class and race. There are four varieties of meta-human (Elf, Dwarf, Ork, and Troll), or just the regular human variety. Classes include Mage, Street Samurai, Shaman, Decker, Rigger, and Physical Adept. This choice provides plenty of variety in play-style. For example, a Street Samurai is your standard mercenary warrior class proficient in firearms. A Decker hacks into computers, while Adepts enhance their own physical abilities through magic.

Selection and movement are both controlled via taps and swipes. There were times when our taps weren't recognised on a hotspot. You could also argue that dragging your finger along the screen to explore the world isn't as intuitive as a mouse. But these are minor criticisms that don't impact gameplay that drastically.

The world is presented in a vivid and intriguing way mostly through the descriptive text and dialogue. It's not that the visuals don't do their job, but a lot of the character found in Shadowrun Returns lies in the speech patterns of its inhabitants. And with no voice acting, those who dislike reading should probably look elsewhere.

While initially daunting due to its complex character skill sheets and lack of decent content tutorial, Shadowrun Returns sticks to a consistent pace that should keep players engaged right up until the end credits. It's a great world to spend some time in, and as it has all the trappings of a classic PC RPG with very few of the faults. It's not the longest RPG around, but it should keep you busy for at least ten to twelve hours. The lack of modding hurts its longevity, but hopefully the developers support it with new campaign updates in the future. In the meantime, the shadows await.

Description

"Perhaps iOS isn't the first platform you'd think of when looking for an RPG, but Shadowrun Returns might change that. Kickstarted by fans of the SNES classic, it blends character customization, an engaging story line, great design, and a solid tactical-combat system with great aplomb." - The Verge

MAN MEETS MAGIC & MACHINE. The year is 2054. Magic has returned to the world, awakening powerful creatures of myth and legend. Technology merges with flesh and consciousness. Elves, trolls, orks, and dwarves walk among us, while ruthless corporations bleed the world dry. You are a shadowrunner - a mercenary living on the fringes of society, in the shadows of massive corporate arcologies, surviving day-by-day on skill and instinct alone. When the powerful or the desperate need a job done, you get it done... by any means necessary.

The unique cyberpunk-meets-fantasy world of Shadowrun has gained a huge cult following since its creation nearly 25 years ago. Now, creator Jordan Weisman returns to the world of Shadowrun, modernizing this classic game setting as a single player, turn-based tactical RPG.

KEY FEATURES:
- The complete Shadowrun Returns campaign (12+ hours of gameplay) now optimized for touchscreen input
- Explore a grim cyberpunk future where magic and technology rule the streets
- Make every action count in gripping, turn-based tactical combat
- Create and customize your character from one of six unique archetypes
- Over 350 different weapons, spells and abilities: sling fireballs, kneecap enemies with your shotgun, or roundhouse kick them in the face!

***NOTE: Shadowrun Returns requires an iPad2 or newer to run. A WiFi connection is required for download. Please ensure you have approximately 1.6 GB of storage space. To OPTIMIZE your playing experience, you may also want to close other apps before playing.***

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What's New in Version 1.2.7

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Comments

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DarkScience4 years, 5 months ago

Well I must say that I was blown away by X-Com but i have not picked it up for ages as it simply got too repetitive to keep me coming back. It might be a general change in what I fancy playing more than the game, i'm on Deus Ex and MC 4 instead of frozen synapse and xcom - so obvious change in pace.

I remember the original shadow run, and that was great always on the run constantly felt in danger - i think the mix of exploring, narrative and the turn based combat is going to rank this higher than xcom for me! I need to complete a few games first before i buy this one. Im watching it for a price drop!

istako4 years, 5 months ago

This looks less addicting and more complicated than X-com. Am I right? I mean... is the story THAT GOOD that it keeps you going till the end? I mean BioShock/Walking Dead good? I was waiting for the iOS relase to play this but I'm still thinking about it.